Breaking | Last Updated: April 23, 2026, 6:43 pm Trump says Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extended by three weeks President Trump said the second meeting between the Israeli and Lebanese envoys went "very well." Lebanon
Split over Maliki, Iraq’s Shiite bloc delays PM vote as deadline nears: What to know Two other candidates have emerged as alternatives to Coordination Framework nominee and former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who is openly opposed by the Trump administration. Iraq
Shelly Kittleson's kidnapping by suspected Iran-backed militia exposes Iraq government weakness The abduction of US journalist Shelly Kittleson highlights the outsized influence of Iran-aligned armed groups operating beyond Baghdad’s control. Iraq
US envoy Barrack oversees Chevron deal in Iraq amid Iran influence row The Trump administration is maintaining pressure on Iraq over the nomination of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and the influence of Iran-backed militias in the country. Iraq
Analysis Can Maliki overcome Trump opposition to reclaim Iraq’s PM post? By Adam Lucente In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change
US: No plans to evacuate embassy in Baghdad, monitoring clashes White House official calls for calm in Iraq following Muqtada al-Sadr's resignation from politics. Iraq
Kuwait asks citizens to leave Iraq amid Baghdad unrest Protests are happening throughout Iraq following cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's announcement declaring he has given up on politics. Legacy: Gulf
Iraqi PM warns security forces to stay out of political conflicts The Iraqi judiciary resumed its work the day after powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr ordered his supporters to withdraw from the Supreme Judicial Council. Iraq
Sadrist protesters withdraw from Iraq's Judiciary after condemnation Sadrist protesters stormed the Judiciary this morning, raising concerns over stability in Iraq. Iraq
Will Iraq's Sunnis, Kurds support early elections? Iraq’s Sunni and Kurdish forces are closely watching developments between the Sadrist movement and the Coordination Framework, so as to take a political position on whether to dissolve parliament and hold early elections. Iraq
Iraqi finance minister resigns over continuing political crisis Finance Minister Ali Abdul-Amir Allawi has resigned from his post in the Iraqi government. Iraq
Understanding Iraq's Coordination Framework The Coordination Framework is an umbrella bloc of Iraqi Shiite parties united mostly by their opposition to the Sadrist movement. Iraq
What Iraq's rival Shiite forces want The Shiite political parties are split into two rival camps, the Sadrists and the Coordination Framework, which is far less than unified. Iraq
Kurdish leaders meet as Iraqi political deadlock continues Iraq’s two major Kurdish parties have been trying to reach a compromise between the two, but to no avail. Iraqi-Kurdistan
Iraqi rival parties can't agree on path to new elections Although Iraq's two rival Shiite groups, the Sadrists and the Coordination Framework, both agreed on early elections, they can't agree on the details. Iraq
Muqtada al-Sadr uses street pressure to set political conditions for his rivals Influential Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr vowed that new elections would be held as his followers flocked to a mass prayer in the occupied parts of Baghdad’s Green Zone after 10 months of political deadlock. Iraq
Iraqi government initiates dialogue to end national crisis Iraqi and international leaders are responding positively to the prime minister's call fior national dialogue among the various political parties. Iraq
